Good morning, my brothers! It’s hard for guys to get real with another man, to share burdens and struggles. Sometimes we forget to do the same with God. Both can be costly. Let’s go! 5-min, 8-sec read.
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In March 2010, John Piper wrote a letter to the elders of his church, and it couldn't have been an easy one to write. There was no scandal, and nobody had caught him doing anything wrong. He simply told them the truth about his own heart.
"I see several species of pride in my soul," he wrote, pride that had "taken a toll on my relationships." He told them his home needed tending and asked for an eight-month leave to deal with it.
The elders said yes, and a few of them watched over Piper and his wife, Noël, the entire time. One of the country's most respected pastors still had to climb onto the mat and let his brothers carry him.
Stay Here With Me
Piper was following our Savior's example. The night before the cross, Jesus took three friends into the garden and didn't hide the burden He was carrying.
He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with Him, and He began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then He said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me."
The strongest Man who ever lived told His friends exactly how He felt. Then He asked them to stay with Him. If the Son of God didn't carry His heaviest night alone, why do we think we should?
What Hiding Costs
David learned the hard way what keeping quiet does to a man. He wrote about it years later:
When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
That's what hiding does. We look fine on Sunday and waste away by Wednesday. But two verses later, David says, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and then, "You forgave the guilt of my sin."
We hide from God and from our brothers for the same reason. We expect condemnation. That's been true for me.
One True Thing
I'll be honest, this is still the hardest part for me. When I first opened up to my wingmen, I expected judgment and rejection over the areas I was struggling with. Instead, they've repeatedly shown me grace.
The same was true with the Lord. Early in my walk, I put off confession and repentance, honestly, because I expected condemnation. Instead, He met me with grace and mercy and let the consequences refine me.
Let's stop carrying our burdens alone. Neither our Father nor our brothers are waiting to condemn us. We're not meant to walk alone.
Reflection
Is there a known sin you haven't brought to the Lord? Stop and ask Him to bring to mind any area you haven't brought to Him yet. Is there a burden you're carrying that's eating you up, one you need someone to carry with you?
Action
First, take it to the Father. Spend time in prayer, agreeing with God that you have grieved His heart over any specific unconfessed sin you're carrying. Turn from it, and ask for His strength in future temptation.
Then call your wingman, or the man you'd want to be your wingman, and unload your burden. Be honest. Be real. Ask him to pray with you and stay with you as you walk through it.
Prayer
Father, show me any unconfessed sin I need to bring to You. Give me the courage to share my burdens, and give me brothers who'll stay. In Jesus' name, amen.
-Will
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